Va. Senate rejects letting Legislature override regulations

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Senate has narrowly defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the Legislature to suspend or nullify administrative regulations. The measure was proposed by Del. Chris Head, a Botetourt County Republican, as an antidote to executive overreach. It was passed 61-32 by the Republican-dominated House of Delegates earlier this month. Sen. John Edwards, a Roanoke Democrat, called the measure an unprecedented legislative power grab that would have dramatically altered the balance of power with the executive branch. One Republican, Sen. John Watkins of Powhatan County, joined the Senate’s minority Democrats in voting against the measure Tuesday. The vote was 20-19, one short of the 21 votes needed to begin the process of amending the state Constitution.